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Golf: Focused Rory McIlroy remains on hot streak at Memorial

Associated Press

Posted:
05/29/2014 08:19:08 PM PDT

Updated:
05/29/2014 10:15:22 PM PDT

Whether it's his health or his personal life, Rory McIlroy is not easily distracted when he's on top of his game.

McIlroy made two eagles and three birdies on the back nine at Muirfield Village -- along with a double bogey -- on his way to a 9-under 63 and a three-shot lead Thursday after the first round of the Memorial in Dublin, Ohio.

A week ago, McIlroy began his week at Wentworth by announcing he and tennis player Caroline Wozniacki had broken off their engagement. Then, he went out and won the BMW Championship.

At the Memorial, McIlroy caught his spikes in the turf on his second shot at the seventh hole and felt pain in his left knee the rest of the day, especially when he had to put a little extra pop into tee shots or long irons. McIlroy said he had never experienced that pain before.

"The inside of it is sore, a little swollen," he said. "Some treatment and I should be fine for the morning."

It was the lowest opening round in 39 years at the Memorial.

"I don't think it's anything more than just being confident with my game," McIlroy said. "I was expecting this to happen. I've been playing well. ... And honestly, I don't think it's anything to do with what's happening off the golf course."

Masters champion Bubba Watson, Chris Kirk and Paul Casey each had a 66.

Keegan Bradley was at 67, notable not because it was his best score at Muirfield Village but because it was his first time in his four years on the PGA Tour that he did not use a belly putter.

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Adam Scott, who won at Colonial last week in his debut at No. 1 in the world, lost momentum with a shot into the water for double bogey on No. 9 en route to a 69.

Phil Mickelson looked sharp -- at least for 15 holes. He was at 5 under after a birdie on the 15th hole. But he hit into the water on the par-3 16th and did well to escape with bogey. He came up short on the 17th and muffed two flops shots on his way to double bogey. And he finished with another double bogey by three-putting the 18th. That gave him a 72.

"Just threw away a good round," Mickelson said.

LPGA: Founded in 1955, the LPGA Championship is the oldest tournament on tour. But the tour announced it has partnered with the PGA of America and KPMG, a professional business services company, to create the KPMG Women's PGA Championship starting next year at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York.

The event, which is expected to rotate to other major metropolitan markets, will provide a boost in prize money from $2.25 million, the purse for this year's Wegman's LPGA Championship near Rochester, New York (Aug. 14-17), to $3.5 million and receive weekend national television coverage on NBC.

European Tour: Jens Dantorp and Eddie Pepperell shot 6-under 66s to share the Nordea Masters lead in Malmo, Sweden, leaving second-ranked Henrik Stenson three strokes back. Miguel Angel Jimenez also opened with a 69 at PGA Sweden National.